Recently 'The Australian' ran an article on the upcoming schedule for the Kookaburras and its going to be busy for the them. www.theaustralian.com.au
As an author of five books on hockey and travelled the world writing hockey for 24 years to 1994, I've watched the Kookaburras win numerous Champions Trophies, win two World Cups and an Olympic Gold. The Kookaburras have been within the leading four nations since the late seventies and every international fixture helps to concrete the team's efforts at this elite level.
Certainly the Kookaburra's work rate has gone up since Ric Charlesworth took over as coach. The evidence for this has been his introduction of two chasing forwards who never stop focusing on the ball even when it goes deep and back and forth in the opposition's defence.
The introduction of allowing coaches to swap players on and off the field is the chemistry that binds such tactics together.
This formulae has seen so many opportunities come the Kookaburra's way, when an opposing player muffs up the defensive play under constant harassment by these persistent roving attackers. It has changed the nature of the game and in particular the stranglehold of ball-retention when in defence by the strong European nations.
These upcoming fixtures therefore will continue to assist Charlesworth as he hones the craft of his squad.
This month Australia play New Zealand in three tests in Hobart, then the Champions Trophy next month in New Zealand followed by a four nation's tournament with New Zealand, India and Pakistan and then again, after that series additional test matches against India and Pakistan.
Now that's what I call a preparation.